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Reading List: The World of Penny Dreadful

Some of literature’s most terrifying characters, including Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and iconic figures from the novel Dracula are lurking in the darkest corners of Victorian London. PENNY DREADFUL is a frightening psychological thriller that weaves together these classic horror origin stories into a new adult drama. [Text: Showtime’s Penny Dreadful web site; Image: Jim Fiscus/SHOWTIME]

Jim and I (Michelle) are fans of Showtime’s new series Penny Dreadful, which takes and twists classic literary characters and throws them in with original (or are they?) characters, where they get down to business (see also: wreak havoc) in the ballrooms and back alleys of 19th century London. Setting the scene for this post, a brief rundown of what we like about the show: Ethan Chandler, our favorite character (we’ll try not to show our bias too greatly (but no promises there)); the show’s aesthetic, which covers everything from the rich atmosphere, how the shots/scenes are stylized and framed, the costumes, to the soundtrack; how characters we know and love (Victor, when we say love, we’re not looking at you in this case) are something more here–basically, the writers are playing with these characters in ways that keep us coming back, wanting to know what their ultimate, endgame shape is going to look like; Ethan (did we mention him already?); and…well, there’s a lot.

Here’s how this reading list works: We’ve divided up the main characters (so far) and cover a range of topics relevant to each one, capping the post off with a ‘for further reading’ list that provides background information on the time period, location and related events. Jim’s going to delve into Vanessa Ives and spiritualism; Victor Frankenstein and medicine/science in the latter half of the 19th century; Ferdinand Lyle and Egyptology; and Sembene and body art and weaponry. Michelle is going to dissect: Sir Malcolm Murray and 19th century exploration; Ethan Chandler and the Indian Wars (and, you know, everything else, because favorite character); Dorian Gray and the libertine lifestyle; Brona Croft and London slum life. And that’s just to start! So, roll up your sleeves and prepare to dig into the seedy and seething world of Penny Dreadful.

Malcolm Murray

Malcolm Murray is ostensibly the leader of the group; his obsessive desire to find his taken daughter, Mina, has so far been the driving force behind the group’s assembly and their late-night exploits. Now, if the name Mina rings a few bells, it should, and no doubt you’re on the right track: Mina’s last name would have been Harker. As in Dracula. And Van Helsing, who Murray hires to assist Victor. If you’re watching the show (or want to, once it’s released on DVD) and haven’t read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, you bet we can help with that:

The Annotated Dracula – edited with a foreword and notes by Leslie S. Klinger; additional research by Janet Byrne; introduction by Neil Gaiman

As I mentioned, Van Helsing is present and accounted for on the show, and if you find yourself curious about Abraham you could check out The Many Faces of Van Helsing, a series of essays on the Dutch doctor. (Obligatory Hugh Jackman mention: You could always watch Van Helsing, forscience.) And while we’re still in Draclandia, let me not forget Fenton, a Renfieldesque character on Penny, who may make you go hmm–In which case, perhaps you’d like a look at The Book of Renfield: A Gospel of Dracula by Tim Lucas.

As for the man himself, to draw on another literary icon: Murray’s obsessive and manipulative nature brings Moby Dick‘s Ahab to mind. He is certainly after his own white whale, and if its belly is not so big, its teeth are sharper.

Vanessa Ives

We don’t know a lot about Miss Ives at this point (although that may change after 6/8). With the exception of Sembene, she is probably one of the more mysterious characters on the show. What we do know: She has some kind of long relationship with Sir Malcolm and his missing daughter Mina, she is clairvoyantish (I say ish because, in spite of “seeing things,” she still manages to look vaguely confused when they actually happen), possibly relating to this she is possessed by something when she attends a seance (Eva Green can do a surprising range of voices), she has a thing for Dorian Gray (see more on him below) which is turning her into a crazy stalker (although we have theories on this). There is also a lot of religious symbolism swirling around her and spiders…lots of spiders (shiver). Oh, and she looks a little like Frida Kahlo (which is neither here nor there).

To Malcolm Murray, American sharpshooter Ethan Chandler is nothing more than “a finger on the trigger”; a man in possession of a skill set that allows him to do some damage to the creatures they’re up against, creatures that move in the blink of an eye. To Murray, Ethan is the group’s muscle, and ultimately expendable. Murray is wrong, of course: Ethan is so much more than he seems. In fact, viewers don’t quite know what Ethan is, but Jim and I, we have more than a few ideas. (We have novel-length ideas, a whole set of them. New volumes are added after every episode.)

Let’s start with what is known (sort of; Ethan’s not exactly forthcoming or quick to confirm): He was in some way a part of the Indian Wars; Stateside, he was pursued by a federal marshal; and he traveled to England as an actor in a Wild West show. Now, Jim and I aren’t sure (though we have our suspicions), regarding the Indian Wars, who Ethan fought beside, nor do we know which battle he played a role in, so…We’ve got some ground to cover, and I’m going to start by pointing you in the direction of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown. But perhaps you’ve read that one and want to approach the subject from the other side. In that case, try Frontier Regulars: The United States Army and the Indian, 1866-1891 by Robert M. Utley. (Utley also co-wrote Indian Wars with Wilcomb E. Washburn.) Or, through ILL, you could get Indian Wars: The Campaign for the American West by Bill Yenne. And while the events in this next one may–or may not, actually, if one possible theory pans out–pre-date Ethan’s involvement in the wars, there’s also The Deadliest Indian War in the West: The Snake Conflict, 1864-1868 by Gregory Michno. (There is one specific thing, unrelated to the wars, that Ethan does mention: the Anasazi and the art they left behind.)

We have no solid clues to go on to determine why Ethan was pursued by federal marshals (again, we have ideas, or maybe it’s more of a wishlist?), but if you’re interested in 19th century lawmen you could try any one–or all–of these titles:

I could go on and on about what Ethan’s apparent affinity with wolves might mean, but then this post would be twenty times longer than it already is, so…Perhaps you’d like to read one of the following titles and develop theories of your own:

You might also watch The Wolf Man starring Lon Chaney and Claude Rains

Victor Frankenstein

Victor, Victor, Victor. The next time you reanimate a corpse, please put in a mute button. Victor is the enigmatic anatomist and medical go-to guy for Malcolm’s team. Why is he enigmatic? Well, he has a hobby (surprise, surprise) creating really talkative/whiny monsters (which kind of gets him in trouble). As you may have guessed, Victor is not our favorite character on the show, but he makes a nice jumping off point for material on 19th century medicine and science (oh yeah, and monsters, obviously).

Sir Malcolm and Vanessa lay their hands on some hieroglyphs (I won’t say where they got them) and take them to the illustrious/flamboyant Ferdinand Lyle. Lyle isn’t very forthcoming or helpful (other than handing out an invitation to a really wild party), but by bringing him in, the show delves heavily into the 19th century obsession with Egypt.

How about some fun fiction titles set in Egypt? The Osiris Ritual by George Mann, featuring Egyptologist Lord Winthrop, or The Osiris Curse by Paul Crilley, made even more awesome by the inclusion of Nikola Tesla.

What would a discussion about the pop cultural impact of ancient Egypt in the 19th century on ours be without Mummy Movies!The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, and what list would be complete without Boris Karloff’s 1932 classic,The Mummy.

Dorian Gray

If Dorian Gray is just a name, albeit one you might have heard before, the logical starting place is Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. (Say you’re in a hurry to figure this guy out, though: There’s always Ben Barnes’ portrayal in Dorian Gray, and that film has bonus Colin Firth. Otherwise, you could request the 1945 version starring George Sanders and Angela Lansbury.) As for Dorian’s role on this show, that mostly remains to be seen, though he’s so far shown his hand regarding vices: gambling, drinking, scandalous private parties. Oh, and botany. Dorian does so love a rare orchid. So, then, some Dorian-as-done-by-Penny–Dreadful related titles you might be interested in:

Sembene is probably the character on Penny Dreadful we know the least about, partly because he’s probably only said about a dozen words in the whole show (so far). He is Sir Malcolm’s valet; he’s African (we think); has a penchant for body art; he carries around a knife that looks a little like a Nepalese Kukri; and he’s mean to cats! (deep breaths)

There seems to be some confusion on what Sembene is (looking at you Tumblr): He is not a butler. A butler is the servant in charge of the household staff. A valet is the personal attendant of the master. Check out Stephan Berry’s Royal Service: My Twelve Years as Valet to Prince Charles. (Although I doubt Berry owns a kukri or kills cats.)

Finding books on African knives is a little tougher. There’s The Cutting Edge: West Central African 19th Century Throwing Knives in the National Museum of Ethnology, which isn’t available anywhere in Massachusetts, but we might be able to order if from out of state. (Use our Interlibrary Loan Request form.) There are also quite a few general books on knives out there that we could get, like Knives 2008. We also have an online resource you could use: Price It, a database for pricing antiques and collectables, and if you search for knives it brings up a lot of stuff.

Brona Croft

Brona in a nutshell: An Irish immigrant, Brona turned to prostitution–and taking risque photographs–to carve out a hardscrabble life for herself in London. She’s plucky and quick to smile, though her days are numbered: consumption has that effect on people. Tough subjects ahead:

Read This Bloggers:

About Michelle: If one's reading taste was a map, mine would have so many scattered pins. I love genre fiction--fantasy, mystery, and the rest--and young adult fiction. Also: graphic novels and lots of them, and non-fiction on whatever topic snags my attention.Series: Michelle Recommends

About Jim: There is so much stuff I like I can't keep it all straight (or get to it all). History and Historical Fiction are my stand-bys. I also love spy novels (ala La Carre not Flemming. Although I adore neat gadgets). Can't seem to get enough YA/Adult fantasy and sci fi (its all about the world for me). Oh and lets not forget my growing graphic novel obsession. So to sum up: Jim + author who writes YA Historical Spy Fantasy with a really cool world and lots of gadgets (turn that into a graphic novel) = Jim never leaves his house ever again.Series: Jim Recommends

About Jen: I like to keep my reading light and upbeat. Few tears, little violence, lots to learn and plenty to make me laugh. Expect to find a mix of magic realism, humor, history, popular culture, biography and some occasional
trashy gossip!Series: Jen Recommends